But leader Councillor Jo Lovelock has stressed bidding is open to community, voluntary and not-for-profit groups, as well as commercial organisations.

She has also again insisted that whoever buys building in Reading, Berkshire must under no circumstances remove the mural which was painted in 1990 in the memory of peaceful anti-apartheid demonstrators who were killed in 1976.

"The mural remains of huge importance to the black community, the wider community and the council itself.

"It represents Reading's long history of celebrating different cultures and promoting tolerance.

"As a council we remain fully committed to securing its future as part of this process.

"The council owes it to the local tax payer to understand the full value of the property, what people are willing to pay for it and to compare these bids with ones which make offers to keep elements for community use."